Analytic Number Theory

Requisites

Additional Requirements

Students are not permitted to take MATH41022 and MATH61022 for credit in an undergraduate programme and then a postgraduate programme.

Aims

To show how the tools of Mathematical analysis can be used to prove results about prime numbers and functions defined on the integers.

Overview

We start by giving two proofs of the infinitude of primes. The methods are elementary but poor in that they do not tell us the truth of how many primes there are. Stronger tools are introduced, improving the results until we can give a proof of the Prime Number Theorem.

Learning outcomes

On completion of this unit students

will be able to utilise the correspondence between the product of Dirichlet series and convolution of arithmetic functions,

will be able to use the methods of Partial Summation and replacing sums by integrals,

be able to prove elementary results on sums over primes,

be able to prove some analytic properties of the Riemann zeta function,

appreciate a proof of the Prime Number Theorem,

will be able to use the Convolution Method to estimate sums of arithmetic functions.

Feedback methods

Feedback tutorials will provide an opportunity for students' work to be discussed and provide feedback on their understanding. Coursework or in-class tests (where applicable) also provide an opportunity for students to receive feedback. Students can also get feedback on their understanding directly from the lecturer, for example during the lecturer's office hour.